Redpath makes ‘heartbreaking decision’

Gordon are on the look out for a new gaffer after current manager Alan Redpath made the “heartbreaking” decision to stand down at the end of the season.

After six years at the helm, Redpath has decided to call it a day due to family commitments,

“I have had a rollercoaster six years in charge at the Club and have thoroughly enjoyed my time here,” he said. “There have been some very proud moments for me. I’m stepping down on a high”.

With a second child on the way, Redpath feels he won’t have the time to manage the Border Amateur First Division side next season, although he will stay at the club as a player.

Redpath took Gordon into the top flight of the Border Amateur league last season after a 35 year absence. His team smashed the rest of the B division out of the running, winning the league by 14 clear points to be promoted as champions.

“I’ve had lots of great times with Gordon, but getting promoted into the first division last season after so long with a small, local squad is a highlight,” Redpath insisted.

“We didn’t play for a long time because of the weather, and people kind of wrote us off - they knew we had a good team but we had lots of games to play in a short period of time.

“We were playing three times a week, but we only lost one, which showed our quality and our character.”

Redpath, who has played with Gordon for the best part of 20 years, took the reigns in 2005 from then player manager Craig Martin. Since then the club has gone from strength to strength.

Redpath says it was Martin who started the foundations of the team, before he stepped down due to other commitments.

In 2006/7, with Redpath enjoying his first full season at the helm, Gordon bagged a trophy double, winning the Walls and the Cranston Cups. Building on this the following season, they added the Collie Cup to their trophy cabinet, and were promoted to the B Division as third tier runners-up. They also received the team of the year accolade from Berwickshire Sports Council, an achievement of which Redpath is particularly proud.

They consolidated their B division status throughout their 2008/09 campaign, winning back the Cranston Cup, and claiming runners-up medals in both the Walls Cup and the Waddell Cup.

And after 35 years away, Gordon were promoted to the A Division last summer, having drawn just two league games and lost one all season. They also ran out worthy Wright Cup Winners, and bagged the Cranston Cup for the third time in four seasons under Redpath.

“We have come on leaps and bounds from five years ago on the pitch, behind the scenes and financially,” insisted Redpath. “The next step is to invest in the changing facility which will compliment the team on the park.”

He added: “It has been a rollercoaster, there have been highs and some lows, but I’m finishing on a high.”

Anyone interested in the managerial position should contact Club secretary Alan Paterson on 01573 410514.